While it’s debatable whether to blame the Biden administration for inflation’s rise – the economic forces at play are much bigger than any politician — it is perfectly reasonable to wonder whether the president’s minions are channeling Jimmy Carter when they talk about supply bottlenecks and rising prices.

Consider the administration’s dire forecast about Christmas:

American consumers, unused to empty store shelves, may need to be flexible and patient, White House officials said.

“There will be things that people can’t get,” a senior White House official told Reuters, when asked about holiday shopping.

“At the same time, a lot of these goods are hopefully substitutable by other things. … I don’t think there’s any real reason to be panicked, but we all feel the frustration and there’s a certain need for patience to help get through a relatively short period of time.”

This bizarre messaging makes it sound as though the United States is on a war footing, and our supply lines have been cut, rather than tangled. So if you can’t find a video game, or maybe even a Christmas goose, well, you’ve been warned.

That’s if you’re able to survive the Halloween pumpkin shortage, that is:

The shortage, like most other supply chain issues, is linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. Shipping issues have led to a shortage in some locations, plus extreme weather has also wiped out crops around the world.

Fewer pumpkins will mean higher prices for consumers. There are similar issues impacting costumes and decorations this year. A spokesperson for Spirit Halloween said shipping issues mean stores won’t have many chances to restock this year.

Hang tough, America!